Meet Our Staff

Tim Johnson

Director of the UofL Writing Center and Associate Professor of English

I’ve been lucky to work with a lot of writers in introductory, scientific, professional, technical, and digital writing courses over the years here at UofL; at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I received my Ph.D.; and at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where I received my MA. I’ve written a book on how Ford Motor Company helped to narrate a particular kind of economy to the rest of the world (my research is generally interested in the rhetoric of economies), served on the board of a writing-oriented non-profit, and helped establish a Professional and Public Writing major here at U of L. 

I’ve always found writing to be a great way to slow down, process, plan, and connect. Writing helps me to make the overwhelming more manageable, to remain present, to intervene in issues that are important to me, to work with (and learn from) the ideas of others, and to lead a more meaningful life. Getting to spend my days in a place dedicated to helping others do all of that (and quite a bit more) is pretty cool. 

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, reading, horsing around too much, and telling my two sons to quit horsing around so much.  

Annmarie Steffes

Associate Director

Annmarie holds a PhD in English from the University of Iowa and B.A. in English from Ohio University. Before coming to the University of Louisville, she started the Writing Center at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana and served as its Director and as an Assistant Professor of English for four years. Annmarie’s academic research has focused on nineteenth-century dramas by British women writers and the relationship between print and performance, but her writing experiences are diverse and include publishing creative nonfiction, writing grants, and working as a copyeditor. Annmarie believes that writing holds the power to build bridges between people and loves helping writers meet their academic and personal goals, build confidence in their abilities, and experiment with their expression. When not singing the praises of the Writing Center, Annmarie enjoys hanging out with her dog, gardening, and cooking. 

Maddy Decker

Program Assistant, Senior

Maddy holds an MFA in creative writing from Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University, an MA in English from UofL, and a BA in English and anthropology from the University of Kentucky. Her creative work has been featured in Bluestem Magazine, Shale and The Kentucky Kernel’s literary magazine. Maddy loves helping writers build skills, confidence, and an enjoyment of writing. Outside of the Writing Center, she enjoys reading, playing Yoshi's Island, and watching cartoons.

Marie Pruitt

Assistant Director for the University Writing Center

Marie (she/her) is a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in the Rhetoric and Composition program. Her research interests include networks, scholarly writing and publishing, technical communication, and writing technologies. As Assistant Director, Marie is excited to help both the writers and consultants who come to the Writing Center become better communicators, collaborators, and citizens.

Maggie Rose

Assistant Director for the University Writing Center

Maggie Rose is pursuing an MA in English. She graduated with honors from Aquinas College with a BA in English with a Writing Emphasis, and she minored in Music and Irish Studies. While earning her BA, Maggie trained and worked as a writing center consultant for three years. After graduating, Maggie spent nearly three years working as a consultant at Mid Michigan College's Writing and Reading Center. Her research interests include identity and writing, composition pedagogy, and writing center studies. Maggie enjoys helping writers develop their ideas, plan out their writing projects, and navigate the writing process. In her free time, Maggie enjoys rollerblading, writing poetry, and playing ukulele.

Emma Sofianos

Writing Consultant

Emma Sofianos is a graduate teaching assistant pursuing her M.A. in English at the University of Louisville. She earned a B.A. in English at Florida State University with a concentration in Editing, Writing, and Media and a secondary major in advertising. She aspires to work in publishing either as an editor or publicist, and her interests include invitational rhetoric and Victorian Gothic literature. During her undergraduate studies, she produced her own travel blog, Spill the Tea, and worked as a writer and staff editor for the journalistic organization Her Campus and as a fiction editor for The Kudzu Review. In her free time, Emma enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and catching up on the latest music and movie releases.

Makenzi Walsh

Writing Consultant

Makenzi is a graduate teaching assistant pursuing her MA in English. She received her  BA in English from Misericordia University focusing in Professional Writing and Rhetoric. She was a tutor at Misericordia University’s writing center as well as the editor and designer of Misericordia’s in house journal of the arts, titled Instress. Makenzi looks forward to continuing her studies and getting to know the UofL community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling, and her most recent obsession, scrapbooking. 

Joe Thomas

Writing Consultant

Joe is a fiction writer pursing an M.A. in English with a focus in creative writing. In Spring of 2025 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and while there served as an editorial intern for the independent literary press Braddock Avenue Books, and the managing editor for the schools literary magazine, Equinox. His work has appeared in the Arkansas Review, The Laurel Review, Necessary Fiction, amongst others. In his spare time, Joe likes to hike, draw, play music, and talk about books.

Ally Howard

Writing Consultant

Ally Howard is a first-year M.A. and GTA student from Louisville, KY. She recently received her B.A. in English from Hanover College, where she developed an interest in medieval literature, contemporary literature, and creative writing. She has previously served as a writing tutor at Hanover College and Ivy Tech Community College and is excited to continue working with students in her hometown. While at the University of Louisville, she hopes to further pursue her passion for higher education by expanding her knowledge of composition pedagogy and writing center studies. In her free time, Ally enjoys reading, writing poetry, and spending time with friends and family.

Anna Williams

Writing Consultant

Anna Williams is a first-year English MA student at the University of Louisville and a graduate teaching assistant. She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science from UofL, where she was the Opinion Editor for The Louisville Cardinal and a McConnell and Porter Scholar. Her prose has been published in The Courier Journal, The White Squirrel, and Cardinal Composition. As a writing consultant, Anna brings a deep interest in rhetorical strategy and plans to pursue a PhD in rhetoric and composition.

Carrington Kinslow

Writing Consultant

Carrington Kinslow is excited to be returning to the University of Louisville as a master's student and G.T.A. after graduating with her BA in English Literature in 2024. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she served as a Student Editor for UofL’s Miracle Monocle, while also working in Inventory Management with Barnes and Noble. Her undergraduate thesis traced the legend of “Saint George and the Dragon” throughout its various retellings, adopting a queer, gendered lens, in search of the legend’s origin. Carrington hopes to continue following folklores, legends, and mythologies to their beginnings during her return to UofL. In her free time, Carrington enjoys reading, gaming, crocheting, and watching new movie releases. 

Emma Hallman

Writing Consultant

Emma Hallman, a Birmingham, Alabama native, is a first-year graduate teaching assistant, pursuing a Master of Arts in English with a concentration in rhetoric and composition. She graduated with high honors from Huntingdon College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in psychology. During her time at Huntingdon, she was a member of the women's golf team, interned with a grant writer, and completed her capstone project. Using a rhetorical ethnographic approach, Emma examined Huntingdon's response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked her interest in the intersections of race, memory, counterpublic discourse, and language. At the University of Louisville, she hopes to continue studying her interests and expanding her knowledge of how rhetoric shapes literature and our perception of the world. In her free time, Emma enjoys working on puzzles, golfing, rock climbing, hiking, listening to music, and traveling.

Liam Cercone

Writing Consultant

Liam Cercone is pursuing a M.A. in English at UofL while working as a GTA. He graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College. While at Centre, Liam’s Senior Research focused on queer theory in Emily Dickinson’s poems, most prominently in relation to symbols of restriction. Additionally, he completed an independent study in film theory, where he developed his personal interest in new media, mapping the connections between queer online spaces, fan fiction, and short-form film. Liam hopes to continue working with new media and queer theory during his time at UofL. In his free time, Liam enjoys disc golf, video games, baking, LEGO sets and playing with his two cats.

Ryleigh Thornton

Writing Consultant

 Ryleigh Thornton is starting her first year as an English MA student. In 2024, she graduated from the University of South Alabama with her Bachelors in English. During her undergraduate studies, Ryleigh worked as Editor-in-Chief for the student-living magazine on campus, Due South Magazine. She also served as a ComPAL for English Composition classes where she solidified her love for teaching and helping students. Her last three semesters consisted of writing her honors thesis entitled "Gertrude Stein: Autobiography and Play" and she hopes to continue her studies in Modernism in Louisville! When Ryleigh is not reading or researching, she enjoys crafting, watching movies, and spending time with loved ones.

Derek DeBurger

Writing Consultant

Derek DeBurger is a graduate student from Louisville, Kentucky. He has a Bachelor's of Arts in English and a Certificate of Completion from the Second City Film School. In his free time, Derek enjoys watching movies and sports.

Ananta Khanal

Writing Consultant

Ananta Khanal is a Ph.D. student in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Louisville and works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of English. Before joining UofL, he worked as a Writing Center Consultant and Assistant Instructor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he completed some graduate coursework in Rhetoric and Writing Studies. He is interested in exploring how language influences power and pedagogy, with a focus on connecting non-Western and Western ways of knowing in academic settings. He believes that cross-cultural exchanges can improve teaching, writing, and learning. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, traveling, and engaging with people.

Sophie Cornwell

Writing Consultant

Sophie holds a BA in writing and MA in writing and pedagogy from Point Loma Nazarene University. She is now a PhD student in the Composition and Rhetoric program, where she is researching the correlation between writing studies and addiction studies. She is passionate about anything related to literacy studies and she is published in multiple literary journals and magazines. When she is not writing or reading, she is usually hiking, walking her dog, listening to Taylor Swift, and she is probably eating Cheez-Its right now.

MacKenzie Croley

Writing Consultant

MacKenzie Croley is a PhD student whose research interests focus on writing center studies and digital writing resources. MacKenzie holds an M.A. in English from Clemson University and a B.A. in English from Xavier University. In her free time, MacKenzie enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants, and reading thriller novels. 

Laila Garner

Office Assistant

Laila (She/Her) is third-year student at the University of Louisville. She is currently majoring in business administration and minoring in marketing. She loves listening to music, graphic design, and reading books. Laila is from Chicago, IL. Laila is also the owner of the clothing brand TakeOver Apparel. In her free time if she’s not working on schoolwork she will be working on her business.  

Glenn Donohue

Office Assistant

Glenn is a junior at UofL and am currently studying meteorology. He is from Crystal Lake Illinois.  When he is not at school or working, he enjoys watching sports and playing video games. He also enjoys chasing storms. 

Ailis Wiggett 

Office Assistant

Ailis Wiggett (she/her) is a third-year Honors Program student majoring in Communications from Lexington, Kentucky. When she graduates, Ailis wants to pursue broadcasting and be the first news reporter with pink hair! In her free time, she loves hanging out with friends, doing her nails, or listening to music and podcasts.